Sole grading machine



Gait 29, 1 v D. PARKS soLE GRADING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1938 v '7 Sheets-Sheet l HTTOEA/EK @XZ'L 29,. 1Q4Q. PARKS SOLE GRADING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 lN/f/VTOE 4 DEN/VIE: P/IE/ns D. PARKS SOLE GRADING MACHINE Get. 2, 1940.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1958 /Nl L A/TOPI DEA HA5 P4 IF/F,

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@cL 29, 11940. D. PARKS SOLE GRADING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 29, 1940. PARKS SOLE GRADING MACHINE 7 Sheets$heet 5 Filed May 21, 1938 Oct. 29, 1940.

D. PARKS SOLE GRADING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 #7 lN/ERT E: I

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7 Sheets-Sheet 7 (Filed May 21, 1938 Patented Oct.- 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The general object of this invention is to pro- My machine is of the type which grades soles according to the thinnest marginal portion at either side of the sole, and usually only in the forward portion thereofthat is, the sole por-' 16 tion proper, as distinguished from the heel portion of the sole-and one of the important objects of the invention is to provide novel mechanism for enabling the thinnest portion at either edge of the sole to be determined with great accuracy while the sole is being rapidly passed through the grading mechanism.

As soles differ in width over a wide range, from soles for the smallest child's shoe to soles for the largest mans .shoe, and as it is necessary that the grading proceed along the marginal portions of the soles whatever he the width of the series of soles being graded at any particular time, another object of myinvention is to provide simple means, easily adjusted, to delimit the field of grading, so that the same grading mechanism may be used for grading soles varying in width from the minimum to the maximum.

As soles also differ in length over a. similar. range as indicated with respect to their width, it is obvious that the sole for a child's shoe, for a example, will require a much shorter grading operation than the sole for a mans shoe; and it is therefore an important object of the invention to provide readily adjustable means for determiningthe length of the gradingoperation I Another objectof the invention is to. provide 55 adjusting means for the grading mechanism which will enable the soles to be graded with extreme accuracy to irons and half-irons, or, where such extreme accuracy is not required, to grade by whole irons only. For example, the machine from which the drawings accompanying this application were made is adapted to grade normally to half-irons, and for mens shoes has a capacity ranging from 6 to 12 irons. The adjusting means referred to may be so set that half-iron grading will be eliminated, anything over 6 and less than '7 irons being graded as a 7, and so on throughout the range of grades. This same adjusting means also permi ts of adjustment of the grading mechanism to compensate for wear of parts, producing inaccuracy in rading.

It frequently happens that the thinnest portion of a sole selected by the grading mechanism may be only slightly more or less than a given grademeasurement so that, for example, a sole only slightly less in thickness than, say, '7 irons, may be discharged into the container for 6 iron soles; while a sole only slightly greater in thickness than 7 irons may be discharged into the container for 7 /2 soles. To .insure correct grouping of these intermediate grades, it is an object of my invention to provide means for automatically causing a sole whose grade measurement differs only slightly, in one direction or the other, from a given thickness in irons at its thinnest portion, representing one of the grading stages of the machine, to be definitely discharged into the container for soles most nearly approximating the grade measurement of the sole.

My machine involves the employment of a circular, series of grading pins, which are auto- ;matically adjusted .in height by the grading I mechanism andcause the soles to be discharged from the machine into-containers at ,various points around the machine acorn-ding tothe grade measurements of the soles, and ,it isone of the objectsof the inventionto provide; means for initially raising each of these -pinsin order as they approach the grading mechanism, tov

bring them into co-operative relation ,with -the latter, and torender said ,meansadjustable in ,position in accordance with the length-,of the v soles being graded, in order that said-pins may be raised to operative position at of the grading operatiom,

the; beginning Another object;v of the "invention is the pro @vision of, a series of novel members adapted to be operated selectively by thegrading pins -aforefs'aidto cause the graded soles-to be discharged into the appropriate containers Another object of the invention is to combine with said members for effecting the discharge of the soles dies, or like means, for impressing or imprinting the grade number in irons on each sole before its discharge.

Another object of the invention is to combine with the members for effecting the dischare of the soles means for preventin'g'the sole from turning while its grade is being marked thereon, and also to insure the soles being delivered to the containers in proper position for assemblage with previously delivered soles.

Another object ot: the invention is to provide readily adjustable means for guiding the soles as they are being delivered one at a time to the grading mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing the passage of more than one sole at a time to the grading mechanism during the operation of the feeding, or delivering, mechanism.

In the operation of grading,'the soles are rapidly passed, one at a time, under a pair of grading rollers, previously alluded to, which are arranged in line and extend to the sides of the soles being graded, and it is one of the special objects of the invention to pivotally mount these rollers between their inner ends, so that the outer end portions thereof may readily follow any decrease in thickness at either edge of the sole and thus set the grading mechanism.

Another special object of the invention is the provision of a vertically adjustable member having a grading head at its lower end, which member is operatively associated with the grading rollers and is adapted to be raised and'lowered in the movements thereof when grading a sole, and the lowest position of which grading head, determined by the thinnest portion of the sole over which the grading rollers pass, determines the height to which the respective grading pins are positioned.

Another detailed object. of the invention is to mount said vertically adjustable member in a manner to permit the grading head to be turned to various adjusted positions, and to so shape said grading head that, according to the position to which it is turned, it will determine the length of the grading operation in accordance with one of the broad objects of the invention heretofore set forth.

Another detailed object of the invention is the provision of novel means for'frictionally controlling the movements of the grading pins, to insure that they will remain in any position to which they may be moved in the grading operation.

Another detailed object of the invention is the provision of a series of adjustable pivoted conta'ct members, which are adjusted to successively increase in height by half-iron intervals, beginning at a height corresponding to the thinnest sole to be graded, and which contact members are adapted to be selectively engaged by the grading pins according to the respective heights of said pins, as the latter are moved in a circular path beneath the contact members, to operate the corresponding marking and discharging members, and each of which contact members also operates after contact therewith of a grading pin, to lower such pin out of possible contact with other contact members until it has been reset by the grading mechanism.

Another detailed object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically lowering each grading pin immediately prior to its passing under the grading head, to prevent contact of the pin with the side of the grading head.

Other objects of the invention relate to the novel construction of certain other parts for carrying out the broader objects of the invention, and to details 01 construction and combinations of parts,all of which will hereinafter be fully described in the detailed description of the invention to follow and set forth in the accompanying claims.

Before proceeding with such detailed description, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the special constructions to be described except where such limitation is necessitated by the specific inclusion of such constructions in certain of the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of improved machine, a small portion at either side of the machine being broken away for lack of space;

Fig. 2 is a. view in side elevation, the lower portion-of the machine, constituting its support being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a part of the upper portion of the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. '2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in elevation illustrating the grading pin lifting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, illustrating the various adjustments for the grading head;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4, showing the shape of the grading head;

Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view showing a sole held on one of a series of traveling tables by one of the combined marking and. discharging members, and illustrating the path of the sole from the grading rollers to a container for that Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in side elevation of one of the contact members;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the plate of the contact member in its normal inclined position; and p Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view of the grade adjuster.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a vertical frame, which is continued down to a supporting standard, or base (not shown). As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, this frame provides at its upper end a cylindrical bearing 2 -in which is secured a vertical bearing shaft 3 by means of a locking bolt 4. Rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft 3 is a circular platform 5, having a hub portion 6. The platform 5 is provided with a continuous depending flange 8, and secured atequal intervals to this flange around the periphery of platform 5 are four receiving tables 9 which are bolted to the flange 8 by bolts 10 to have their upper sides lie flush with the upper side of the platform 5. The upp part of frame I is provided with an integral circular supporting band ll, adjustably mounted around the periphery of which by means of set screws l2, are a series of containers for the graded soles, indicated by'the numerals l3 and corresponding in number to the number of combined marking and discharging members employed (see also Figs. 1 and 2). In Figs. 2 and 3 only one of these containers is shown to prevent confusion in the illustration, The platform 5' is rotated in the-following manner:

Mounted centrally on the top of the platform 5, and bolted thereto by bolts I4, is a ring gear i5 (see also Figs. 4 and 5) with which meshes a pinion 6 on the lower end of a driven shaft II. On the upper end of this shaft is mounted a bevel gear I8, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, which is driven by a bevel pinion is secured intermediate the ends of a drive shaft 26 mounted in bearings 2|. Mounted on one end of the shaft 20 are fast the loose pulleys 22, 23, respectively, from the former of which it is driven by a belt (not shown) from any suitable source of power. When the shaft 26 is driven, it will be seen that the platform 5 and its tables 9 will be rotated about bearing shaft 3 though the connections described.

The shaft 20 has mounted on the end opposite to that on which the pulleys 22 and 23 are mounted a sprocket wheel 24, Figs. 1 and 4, over which and a sprocket wheel 26 a sprocket chain 25 passes. The sprocket wheel 26 is mounted on the endof a shaft 21 supported in bearings 28, and on this shaft are mounted friction, or drive, rollers 29, 30, which are spaced apart and fixedly secured on the shaft by set screws 3|. These rollers co-operate with grading rollers 32 and 33, to be later described, to cause the soles to be passed under and in contact with the grading rollers, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, in

the soles to the grading rollers, as later explained. The chain 35 is a sprocket chain, and as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, passes at one end, that adjacent the grading rollers, over a sprocket 38 mounted on a cross-shaft 39, which is driven from the sprocket chain 25. The other end of chain 35 passes over a sprocket 40 mounted on a shaft 4| and protected by a guard 42, shown atthe extreme right of the figures indicated, and at the bottom of Fig 1. The shaft 4| is mounted in two plates 43 bolted at 44 to the end of a vertically-disposed bar extending horizontally between the two sprockets 38 and 40, and indicated at 45. This bar is relatively thick, and its upper edge supports the upper run of the feed chain 35 and causes it to travel in a true horizontal path. The numeral 46 indicates a stationary, circular support, which has a central hub 41 firmly secured to the upper end of the bearing shaft 3 by a lock bolt 48. located above and parallel to the rotating platform 5. The hub 41 is encircled at a distance by the ring gear l5 previously referred to. Bolted to the top of the support 46 are bracket members 49 located in pairs on either side of the bar 45 and bolted to the latter at 5|) to firmly secure it in position. The manner of supporting a pile of soles of equal length and width on the machine, and of guiding and delivering the same,

It is.

one at a time, to the grading rollers will now be described, referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The numerals 5| indicate a pair of parallel guide bars having at their bottom edge inward-- ly-extending flanges 52, which serve as supports for the soles, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The bars 5| project upward at right-angles to the flanges 52, and form bars acting as guides for the soles as they are carried forward by the feeding chain .35. The guide bars 5| are adapted to be moved toward and from each other to accommodate various widths of soles by the following mechanism:

Each bracket member 49 of the two sets of bracket members which secure the bar 45 in position is provided on its rear side with a cylindrical bearing 53 in which is rotatably mounted the pivot 54 of a bell-crank lever 55, One arm of each of these levers is pivotally connected at its outer end to one of the guide bars 5|, as shown at 56. The other arm of each lever of the forward set is pivotally connected at 51 to one end of an arm 58, the other end of which is flattened and provided with an aperture through which passes the stem 59 (Fig. 3) of a thumbscrew 66, which stem also passes through a slot 6| in the bar 45 and has a screw-threaded end engaged by a thumb-nut 62. By loosening the thumb-nut 62, grasping this member and the corresponding member 6|- with the hands, and

moving them forward or backward, it will be seen that the arms 56 will rock the bell-crank levers and cause the guide bars 5| to be separated, or brought closer together, as the case may be; to provide the proper width of guide for the particular soles being graded, after which the thumb-nut is turned in one direction and the thumbscrew in the other to bind the ends of the arms 58 against the sides of'the bar 45 and thus hold the guide bars securely in their adjusted position. In the adjustment of the guide bars 5| it will be seen that they will always maintain their parallel relation by reason of being actuated by the two sets of bell-crank levers 55. I may state that the rear bell-crank levers 55 are ordinarily employed merely as links to preserve parallelism ofthe guide bars, but each is provided with an aperture 63 to enable them to be employed as bell-crank-levers, if so desired.

Secured on and projecting upward from the circular support 46 on either side of the guide bars 5| are two posts 630:, supported on the upper ends of which is a cross-shaped casting 64 (Fig. 1) having forwardly and rearwardly extending bars 65, 66, respectively, the whole presenting a flat under side parallel with. the upper side of the bar 45. Supported from the outer ends of the two bars 65, 66, by pivoted links 61, is a flat bar 68 (Fig. 3) which is normally pressed downward by a leaf spring 69 interposed between the casting 64 and said bar '68. The latter is parallel with the upper edge of the bar 45 and also with the under side of the casting 64 and its bars 65, 66, and is maintained in this relation in any longitudinal movement thereof by in the vertical plane of the respective yokes. Actually, the lines of grading will be slightly outside of these vertical planes, owing to the inclined position assumed by either roller in falling. It will now be seen that if the yokes 93, 94, are separated to a greater distance than that shown in Fig. 10, by placing the pins 95 in the outermost apertures 98, the lines of grading will be advanced nearer the edges of the sole. Conversely, if the pins are placed in the innermost apertures 98, the lines of grading will be nearer the central portion of the sole. The movement of either grading roller to its lowest point in the line of grading is utilized to determine the grade of the sole by means of the associated mechanisms now to be described, referring particularly to Figs. 2, 4, and 6.

Bolted on the upper side of the circular support 46 is a base I00, from which rise two parallel, substantially semi-circular side bars I M whichare united at their upper end by a reduced screwthreaded portion I02 which is integral with the side bars. 'This screw-threaded portion receives an adjusting nut I03 on which is.placed a washer I04. The grading-bar 96 is provided near one end (Figs. 4 and 10) with a guide-bearing I05, and beyond this bearing is bent downward and inward to provide a lower, inwardly-extending arm I06, which has at its end a guide-bearing I01 in line with the guide-bearing I05. The numeral I08 indicates the grading-head, previously referred to, which is located below the circular support 46 and is mounted on the lower end of a slide-rod I09, which extends upward through an opening H0 in said support, between the. spaced .bars I 0|, through the guide-bearings I01 and I05 on grading-bar 96 and at its upper end, located well above the guide-bearing I05, is screw-threaded as shown at I09 and provided with a longitudinal slot III. Slidably mounted on therod I09, and supported on the bearing I05 of the grading-bar, is a setting-disk II2, having a hub II3, which is locked to the slide-rod I09 by means of a pin H4 passing through said hub and the slot III in said rod. The setting-disk is provided in its periphery with a series of notches II5, one or the other of which is adapted to receive the upper end of a locking-lever I I6 (see also Fig. 1), which is pivoted at H1 at one side of one of the side bars IOI. The hub I I3 (Fig. 4) is provided'on its periphery with a mark II8. Screw-threaded on the upper end of slide-bar I08 is an adjusting head H9 which bears against the upper end of the hub I I3 of the setting-disk. This adjusting head is provided with a milled upper end I20 to facilitate turning it, and below the milled portion with numbered graduations I 2I (Fig. 10), which are adapted to be set with reference to the mark I I9.

The purpose of the setting-disk I I2 is to enable the operator to turn the grading-head I08 (Fig. 7) so as to determine the length of the grading operation in accordance with the length of soles being graded; and the purpose of the adjusting head H9 is to enable the slide-rod I09 and its grading-head I08 to be raised or lowered to secure accuracy in the grading of the soles, both of which operations will be better understood after the description of other parts of the machine to follow. The purpose of the adjusting nut I03 is to raise or lower the grading bar 96, and thereby through the yokes 93 and 94 and the arms 9| and 92 raise the grading rollers 32, and 33, according as the soles being graded at a particular time are relatively thick, or relatively thin.

Slidably mounted in the rotable platform 5 in circular series are the grading pins I22, which have been previously mentioned and which are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. Each of these pins is designed to be initially raised into contact with the grading head I08, or into the position shown at the left of Fig. 4, and thereafter to be lowered to adjusted heights in harmony with any downward movement, or movements, of said grading head as the sole passes under the grade ing rollers. These pins project at all times above the upper surface of platform 5 and extend downwardly through bosses I 23 which are inte-' gral with and depend from the underside of the table. On a reduced portion at the lower end of each of these bosses is mounted a depending bracket I24 by means of a circular integral collar I25 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which is secured on the reduced portion by means of a set screw I26. The numeral I21 indicates a rocking lever having a circular, central portion I28 which is provided with a conical recess I29 in which is seated a conical friction-member I30. This conical friction member is centrally screw-threaded and receives the screw-threaded end of a belt I 3I which passes centrally through the bracket I24 and projects slightly beyond the outer face of the frictionmember I30. The bolt I3I is provided with a locknut I32 to hold the bolt in any position to which it may be adjusted. The rocking lever I21 is normally inclined downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 5. The numeral I33 indicates a leaf spring which, intermediate its ends is mounted on the lower end of the rocking lever. This is done through the medium of a stub shaft I34, which has a reduced screw-threaded end I35 which passes through an aperture in the lower end of rocking lever I 21 and through an aperture in the leaf spring, and has applied to its outer end a jamb nut I36 which bears against the face of the leaf spring and thus secures it firmly on the end of the rocking lever and likewise holds the stub shaft I 34 firmly in position against the inner face of the rocking lever. Rotably mounted on stub shaft I34 is a roller I31, which will. be later referred to. In its upper portion the leaf spring I33 bears against the projecting end of bolt I3I and thus maintains the conical friction-member I 30 in frictional engagement with the wall of the conical recess I29. The extreme upper end of leaf spring I33 passes through a slot in the upper end of rocking lever I 21, and is secured in position therein by having its end bent outward at an angle, as indicated at I38 in Fig. 5. Mounted on the lower end of leaf spring I 33, and projecting outwardly therefrom is a cone-shaped pin I39, the

purpose of which will be presently described.

The number of grading pins I 22 employed is related to the speed of rotation of the platform 5 and the speed at which the soles are delivered by the feed chain 35 to the grading rollers. In the present machine, the adjustment of these speeds is suchthat four grading pins are used; but with a different adjustment of these speeds, a greaternumber of grading pins could be em ployed, say, six .or eight. The number of rocking levers with their associated parts corresponds to the number of grading pins employed, and in each instance the lower end of a grading pin rests upon a fixed part of the corresponding rocking lever. In the present instance, this is conveniently done by causing the lower end of the grading pins to rest upon the upper side of the respective stub shafts I34.

It is necessary that in the rotation of the circular platform 5 each of the grading pins in turn r should be lowered a sufficient distance to insure of its passing beneath the grading head I08. To this end, I secure on the under side of the circular support 46 a depending bracket arm I40 (Figs. 4 and 5), on the lower end of which is mounteda roller I4 I on a stub shaft I42. This roller is positioned in the path of movement of the grading pins, and as each pin reaches the roller, if its upper end should be at too great an elevation, i. e., higher than the grading-head, it is depressed to a lower positionby passing under the roller I4 I so that in its further movement it will pass freely under the grading-head I08.

' It is also necessary to move the upper end of each grading pin upward into contact with the under side of the grading-head before the grading operation commences, so that the grading pin may be lowered by the grading head the appropriate distance represented by the fall of one or the other of the grading rollers 32, 33, as the thinnest portion of the sole passes under it. To this end I provide the following mechanism:

The numeral I42, Figs. 4 and 5,.indicates a bar, which at its inner end is provided with a circular bearing I43 rotatablymounted on the bearing shaft 3 between the bottom of the hub of platform 5 and the top of the cylindrical bearing 2, in which said bearing shaft is secured. Projecting upward from the upper side of bar I42 are two parallel supports I44, the upper ends of which afford bearings for a rock-shaft I45 on the outer end of which is secured a contact lever I46 which has a curved upper edge, and is slightly curved transversely to correspond with the circular path of movement of the roller I31 carried by therocking lever I21. The contact lever I48 is spring-controlled and to this end is provided with a downward proiection I41 at its-inner end, to the lower end of which is secured, at I48, one end of a coil spring I49, the other end of which is secured in a bracket I50 located on the under side of bar I42. The bar I42 is adapted to'be turned to various positions in accordance with the length of the soles being graded in order that the grading pins may be raised into contact with the under side of the grading head at the proper moment. For this purpose there is provided on the bar I42 near its outer end, on its under side, a bracket I5I in which is mounted a binding screw I52 the inner end of which is adapted to be turned into engagement with the outer side of the circular supporting band II, and thus hold the bar from movement after it has been secured in a given adjusted position.

It will now be seen, by observing Fig. 5, that after the upper end of a grading pin I22 has passed from under the roller HI, and then moves beneath the grading head I08, the roller I31, previously referred to, will engage the upwardly curved surface of the upper edge of the contact lever I46 and cause the grading pin to be moved upward into contact with the underside of the grading head. This movement will also act to depress the outer end of the contact lever against the resistance of spring I49; and when roller I31 passes oil of the end of the contact lever, the latter will be returned to its normal position by the pull of the coil spring, this movement being arrested'at the proper point by means of a contact screw I53, Fig. 5, engaging a stop I54 on arm I42. The contact screw is. adjustable to regulate the height of contact lever I46, and to be held in its adjusting position by locking nut I55.

Located between the lower guide bearing I81 (Figs. 2 and 6) on the grading bar 88. and a fixed collar I56 on the slide bar I03,is a coil spring I51, the purpose-of which is maintain constant contact of" the upper guide bearing 8 I05 SI and 92 and the grading rollers 32 and 33 may be moved togethersimultaneously, or as a unit, in an upward or downward direction, while at thesame time permitting the adjustments of the grading head, and grading rollers heretofore' described. The upward movement of the parts just referred to will be occasioned by the springs 99 when asole is forced by the feed chain under the grading rollers, as indicated in Fig. 4. The downward movement of the parts occurs by gravity whenever a thin portion of the sole passes under agrading roller and permits the same to fall further from an originally lower position than the other grading roller. In Fig. 4, this downward movement would occur if a thinner portion of the sole than that shown should pass under the grading roller 33. If a thicker portion of the sole than that shown should pass under grading roller 33, the grading bar 08, and therefore the grading head I08, would be raised, but this would not ,aflfectthe-particular grading pin I22 positioned under the grading.

head at the time, the grading head simply rising above the grading pin, and the latter being held to the position to which it was moved in the previous downward movement of the grade ing head by the action of the conical frictionmember I30. If, in theposition shown inFig.

4, a portion of the sole, thinner than that shown passing under roller 33, 'should pass under roller 32, then this grading roller would fall to a lower position than roller 38 and move the grading head and the pin I22 under the same to a still lower position. I

While either grading roller is capable of a rising or falling movement independently of the other, they likewise maybe moved simultaneously in an upward or downward direction by reason of the pivotal connection of yoke member 82 carrying the bar 84, and as the sleeve members 86 are mounted to rock on the bar 84 the axes of the grading rollers, considered as a unit, may be canted at one end or the other.

These various movements of the grading rollers enable them to rapidly accommodate themselves to any variations in the thickness of soles passing under them so that, through the ,medium of 'the' grading head I08, they are capable of adjusting the grading pins I22 with great accuracy to correspond to the thinnest portion of the sole passing under the grading rollers. The means by which the grading pins, as adiusted by the grading head, are utilized for marking the grades on the soles and causing soles of like grade to be deposited in the same container,

will now be described. 4

Referring to Figs. 1,2, 3, 8, 9, 11, and 12, and particularly the last two figures, the numerals I58, indicate a series of pivoted contact members, thirteen of whichare employed, the same a being arranged at suitable intervals around the periphery of the stationary circular support 46, and one of which contact members is shown in enlarged detail in Figs..1l and 12. For mounting these contact members on support 46, the latter is provided on itsunder side throughout the greater part of its circumference with circular flanges I59, which afford bearings for a series of rock-shafts I60 (Fig. 3), on the outer end of each of which is fixedly secured one of said contact members. As shown by Fig. 11, the body of each contact member is in the form of a casting, which provides a cylindrical portion I8'I which is fitted on the outer end of the rock-shaft I80 and secured thereon by a set screw I82. Beyond the cylindrical portion I6I, the casting provides a recess, the upper end of which is formed bya stop-plate I63 and the bottom by the upper side of a rectangular die holder I84, in which'recess is housed a coil spring I 65., Adjustably mounted in the die holder is a die I68 which, as shown by Fig. 11, is provided with a circular stem extending up into the coil spring and which has a screwthreaded portion for receiving an adjusting nut IIiI, by means of which the die may be raised or lowered. Extending rearwardly from the die h'older I84 is a horizontal bar I68, having a vertically-disposed plate I69 at its inner end, the upper end 'of which is apertured to permit the rock-shaft I60 to pass through it. Projecting upward from about the center of the bar I68 is a boss I10, which is-also apertured to permit the rock-shaft I60 to pass through it and which, above this rock-shaft, is provided on one side with a lateral extension "I and on its other side, below .the rock shaft, with a lateral extension "2 in the outer end of which is mounted a stop screw "3, which is held in any given adjusted position by a lock-nut I14. The casting as a whole is, of course, of soft metal, such as brass, and in order to provide a hard-metal contact to be engaged by the grading pins I22, I provide a steel plate I15 which, like plate I69, is 'apertured at its upper end to permit the rock-shaft I60 to pass through it, and is firmly secured to plate I89 by means of screw I16. At its lower end plate I15 and preferably, also, plate I89, has a portion of its bottom edge cut away to provide a contact shoulder I11, and beyond the same a other bearing upward against the under side of circular support 46. This spring normally holds each contact member in the inclined position shown, as to a number of them, in Fig. 2.

For holding the sole against turning as it is being marked by one or another of the dies, I mount on the outer side of each die holder I64 2. pointed pin I80, which is shown to be adjustably mounted in small brackets I 8|, and theheight of which pin is regulated to pierce-the sole at a point removed some distance from the point of contact of the dies with the sole. Each of the dies I66 has on its lower end a suitable number, indicated in Fig. 11 by the numeral I82, in the I present case these numbers running in irons and half-irons from 6 to 12, inclusive.

Some manufacturers do notlike to have the soles they use marked, or branded with their grade in irons. Where this is the case, the dies I66 can be removed from their holders and dies substituted therefor either having no number thereon, or else having some secret grade mark of the manufacturer in place of a number.

In like manner, if objection should exist to piercing the sole with the pin I80, any other suitable implement for engaging, but not piercing, the sole, could be substituted for the pin.

When asole has passed completely under the grading roller 32 and 33, it is discharged therefrom and ultimately falls flatw-ise on one of the four tables 9 secured on the periphery of the revolving platform 5 heretofore described. To accomplish this operation, I secure in a thickened rim portion I83 of said platform a bar I84, by means of a set screw I85 (Figs'.'2 and 3) and mount on this bar a relatively wide curved chute I86.(Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8). This chute, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 8, is provided on its underside near its opposite ends with two clamp bearings I81 receiving bar I84, the tension of the bearings on the bar being regulated by set screws I88. These clampbearings enable the chute to be turned on the bar to the proper adjusted position to cause .the lower end of the chute to occupy the proper position relative to the tables 8 to cause a sole discharged from the grading rollers to slide down the chute and be deposited flatwise on a table 9 as it passes under and beyond the lower end of the chute.

To limit the outward movement of the soles discharged from the grading rollers I slidably mount on the upper edge I88 a stop member I89 (Fig. 1) which may be secured in adjusted posi-'- tions on the chute by means of a binding screw I90 (Figs. 2 and 3), according to the length of the soles being graded. The stop member I89 is in the-form of a curved strip positioned edgewise and extending from the upper edge to near the bottom of chute I86.

After a sole on one of the tables 9 has moved under'and been engaged by one of the contact members I58, it is adapted to be discharged from the table and fall into one or the other of the containers I3 previously referred to.- In order to insure of the sole being so deposited I provide a series of inclined guides I 9| which as shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 8 are in the form of parallel separated plates secured edgewise on a flat metal bar I92 to which the upper ends of each strip constituting the container I3 are also secured. As indicated at I93, each of the bars I92 is provided at its inner end with an apertured bearing I94 which receives a pivot pin I95,

the lower end of which is received in a socket bearing I96 formed on a casting I91, and on the upper end of which the bearing I94 is supported.

ported guide and containers may be secured inadjusted positions on said supporting band, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. The inclined guide I9I at the top of each of the containers I3 is positioned to direct the sole falling from the table 9 into a succeeding container I3, relative to the direction of movement of platform 5.

It now remains to describe the means I employ for insuring the deposit of soles-varying only slightly in thickness from a; given number of irons, or irons and half-irons, in the proper container I3.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral I98 indicates my improved grade adjuster, which is in the form of a cylindrical member provided around its periphery with a series of parallel corrugations I99. This device is secured in vertical position on the upper end of a casting 200 which is adjustably secured on the circular supporting band II by means of a set screw 20I This grade adjuster is so positioned that in the movement of the platform 5 each conical pin I 39 will engage its surface. The heights of the corrugations, or circular grooves, I99 corresponds, respectively, to

the various heights to which the grading pins I22 may be adjusted within the range of the machine, as measured in irons and half-irons. It frequently happens, however, that the thinnest portion of a sole graded will vary, to a slight extent,

ing under the contact shoulder I" of plate I16,

or else it will be set just high enough to actuate one of the contact members in advance of the one it should actuate. For example, suppose a sole should grade a fraction of an iron less than '7 irons, but nearer '7 irons than 6 /2 irons; in such case, the grading pin I22, adjusted in height by the grading, might just miss actuating the contact member I58 which would cause the sole to be discharged into the container I3 for '7-iron soles, where it belongs, and actuate the contact member for causing the sole to be discharged into the container for 6 /2 iron soles. On the other hand, a sole might grade a fraction of an iron greater than '7 irons, but nearer '7 irons than 7 irons, ,and cause the grading pin I22, adjusted thereby,

to actuate the contact member for discharging the sole into the container for 7 iron soles, instead of into the container for 7-iron soles. And of course, in either case, the sole would be improperly marked as to its true grade. The uni-t of measurement known as an iron is considerably less than I}; of an inch in length, and it will be readily seen that very slight varations in width would cause'a sole to fall into an intermediate grade on one side or the other of adeflnite thickness in irons, or irons and half-irons, such as is required to secure correct grading of the sole.

This obstacle to correct grading is overcome by my improved grade adjuster, the circular grooves I99 in which are arranged at distances apart corresponding to half iron movements of the grading pins. Thus, if a sole should, at its thinnest portion, grade 6 irons, the conical pin I39 would strike in a corresponding groove. If the sole should grade 6 /2 irons, the conical pin would enter the groove I99 immediately above that corresponding to the 6-iron adjustment of the grading pin. The conical pin I39 has a pointed end and cannot ride on the lands between the grooves, hencev if the sole should grade slightly more or less than a definite measure in irons as indicated above, the point of the pin will engage the side wall of one or the other of the appropriate grooves I99 and cause the pin to slide down into the groove, thereby raising the grading pin I22, by causing'the stub-shaft I34 to be raised, or permitting the grading pin to fall by causing said stub-shaft to be lowered, in either case the movement of the grading pin thus caused corresponding to the variation in the thickness of the sole from a definite measurement in irons or halfirons. Each shoulder I1! is in the same plane as the lower end of the contact member I50, which is actuated thereby, and these shoulders, like the contact members, successively decrease in height by. half-iron intervals, in the present instance from a height corresponding to 12 irons to a height corresponding to 6 irons.

In the operation .of the machine a pile of soles of. uniform length and width being placed on the supports 52, in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, where they are held from lateral displacement by vertical supports 202 adjustably mounted on the guide bars II (Fig. 2) and power being applied to rotate the drive shaft 20, the feed chain 36 will be driven in the direction indicated by .the arrows and the platform ,5 revolved about the bearing shaft 3. Inthe movement of the feed chain, one or the other, of the lugs 36,

31 (the lug 36 as shown in Fig. 3) will engage the rear edge of the bottom sole of the pile, and move it forward. under bar 60 until its forward edge engages in, the crotch between the grading rollers 32, 32 andthe friction rollers 29 and 30, when the continued movement of the sole will force the grading rollers to rise, thereby raising the outer ends of arms 9|, 92 which compress the coil springs 99 and cause the grading bar 96 with its grading head I09 to be raised. In this movement the outer end of bar 94, carrying the grading rollers and arms will be raised by reason of the pivotal mounting of yoke member 02 in which the inner end of said bar is secured, on the cross bar 90. The adjustment of the movements of the feed chain 36 and rotating platform 6 is such that just prior to the entrance of a sole 34 beneath the grading rollers, as shown in Fig. 3, a grading pin I22 will pass under the roller HI and be lowered thereby so that its upper end may pass under the grading head I03. Coincident with the passage of the grading pin under roller I, the roller I31 carried by the rocking lever I21 will pass over the upper edge of the contact lever I46 and as the upper end of the grading pin moves under the grading head, the roller I3I will pass over the upwardly-curved portion at the outer end of contact lever I46, raising the lower end of the rock- 'ing lever I21 and through the medium of stubshaft I34 'raising the grading pin to cause its upper end to engage the under side of grading head I00. The movements under consideration are clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 5 and 3 inthe order named. In Fig. 2, a grading pin I22 is shown as it is about to pass under the roller I, to be lowered; Fig. 5 shows the upper end of the grading pin about to pass beyond roller I and under the grading head and the roller I31 about to pass over the upwardly-curved portion at the outer end of contact lever I46; and Fig. 3 shows the grading pin in position under the grading head, in which latter position of the parts the grading of the sole will begin.

When the end of the sole 34 passes beneath the grading rollers, or shortly thereafter, if the sole should be of uniform thickness at each side, both of the yokes 93 and 94 (Fig. 10), will remain in contact with the under sides of the arms 9I, 92, under the pressure of the springs 99. If, however, one side of the sole should be thicker than the other, the grading roller at that side will be the sole continues its movement under the grading rollers, if a thinner portion of the sole, within the line of grading, as heretofore explained, should pass under grading roller 33, said grading roller will fall to a lower position by gravity, such movement being reinforced by the power of spring 99 bearing on its arm 92, and the weight of grading bar 96 is such as to cause it to fall a corresponding distance, forcing the slide rod I09 downward, through its lower bearing I91 acting on spring I", which in turn bears against the fixed collar I56 on said slide rod, thereby lowering the grading head I08 a distance corresponding to the distance grading roller 33 lowers (Fig.

adjustable head II9. So far as the lower guide bearing I01 and the fixed collar I56 are concerned, the spring acts in all respects as a rigid connection between these parts.

As the grading head lowers, it lowers the grading pin I22 whichis moving beneath, but in contact with, its bottom, and this movement may occur several times, depending upon the variations in the thickness of the sole. The grading pin will always remain in the lowest position to which it is adjusted by' the grading head by reason of the fact that the rocking lever I21, which is rocked by the downward movement of the pin, due to the engagement of the lower end of the pin with the stub-shaft I34 carried by said rocking lever, is maintained in its adjusted position by reason of the engagement of the conical friction member I30 with the conical recess in said rocking lever under the power of the leaf spring I33. Should a thicker portion of a sole passing under the grading rollers succeed a thinner portion, the

-. grading head I08 would simply be raised and the pin I22 would remain in the position to which it had been lowered. In other words, the grading pins I22 are only adjusted to lower positionsin the grading operation. They are never raised during the grading of a sole.

In the continued movement of the platform 5, the grading pin I22 will pass beyond the grading head and continue its movement until its upper end engages one or the other of the shoulders I11 of a contact member I58. During'the time the grading pin has been moving under the grading head, the sole 34 has been moving beneath the grading rollers. When discharged from between the latter and the friction rollers29 and 30, the sole falls on the chute I86, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and is deposited on one of the four tables 9, which the adjusted rate of movement of the platform causes to move heneath the lower end of the chute at the proper moment to receive it. Such table is positioned in line with the grading pin which has just passed from beneath the grading head. The grading pin and the table 9 with the sole thereon continue their movement until, as stated above, the upper end of the grading pin engages the shoulder I11 of a contact member whose height in irons corresponds to the height in irons to which the grading pin has been adjusted. Asthe platform continues to move, the particular contact member I58 affected will be rocked to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 8 under the leverage of the plate I15 having the shoulder I11 engaged, causing the contact member to pivot in the bearings of the rock. shaft I60, .(Fig. 3). As the contact member I58 is turned downward, the lower end of die I 66 and the point of pin I 80 engage the sole, causing its grade to be stamped therein, if a grade mark is used, and during this operation the pin I80 prevents the sole from turning. By the time the contact member reaches the vertical position, shown. in Fig. 8, the cam surface I18 on the bottom of" plate I15 will engage the top of pin I22 and lower the grading pin sufliciently to enable it to pass under the shoulder I11, as shown in the detached view, Fig. 13. While the table 9 continues to move, the sole 34 will be held from movement by engagement of the die I66 and pin I80 therewith. The movement of the contact member as a whole from an inclined to a vertical position is against the resistance of spring I19, and as soon as the rear side of the table passes beyond the plane of said die and pin, or to the position shown in Fig. 9, the said spring exerts its power to restore {the contact member to its normal inclined position and at, the same time impel the sole rearwardly, relative to the movement of the table), the sole then falling ,on the guides I9I and thence into the appropriate container I3, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8.

The above operations, described with reference to the actuation of a single grading pin, applies to the operations of all of the grading pins, which are successively, adjusted to heights corresponding to the thickness at the thinnest portion of the soles beinggraded, with the result that all of the soles are automatically graded, grademarked, and discharged into the appropriate container I3, the soles grading 6 irons being dischargedinto the container for 6-iron soles, soles grading 7 irons into the container for 7-iron soles, and so on throughout the range of the machine, which, as stated, in the present case is adjusted to grade from 6 irons to 12 irons inclusive, at half-iron intervals.

Referring to Figs 4, 6, and 7, it can now be explained how the length of the grading can be adjusted by turning the grading head I08. As shown by Fig. 7, the outer surface 203 of the grading head is in the form of a spiral. Assuming the path of a grading pin I22 over its bottom follows the path indicated by the curved dotted line 204, which would represent the maximum length of grading, it will be seen that if the looking lever I I6 is moved out of engagement with the setting-disk H2 and the latter be turned in an anti-clockwise direction, the length of the grading line 204 will be shortened in proportion to the decrease in distance of the edge of the grading head from its center; that is to say, by turning the grading head in one direction or the other, the distance the grading pin moves over its bottom, starting at any given point, maybe shortened, or lengthened, according to the direction in which the grading head is turned.

The operation and purpose of the adjusting head H9, as well as of the adjusting nut I03, and the manner in which the lines of grading may be changed by adjusting the yokes 93 and 94 on the grading bar, have all been fully setiorth in the specification, and further reference thereto is deemed unnecessary.

I claim:

l. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to, be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest edge portion of each sole passing under and engaged by them, a series of adjustable grading pins continuously movable by the machine in succession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, means for moving each sole passing from the grading rollers in unison with and in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, and a plurality of members adapted to be selectively actuated by said grading pins, according to their respective positions, to engage the corresponding soles and cause them to be delivered at, definite positions according to their grade as fixed by the adjusted positions of said grading pins, whereby 7 all soles of like grade passing under said grading rollers will be assembled at the same position.

2. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of pivotally-mounted grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers to cause the same to raise and lower in accord with variations in the thickness of the soles along predetermined lines of grading at either side of the soles, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under and engaged by them in the lines of grading, a series of adjustable grading pins continuously movable by the machine in succession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions oi! said head, means for moving each sole passing from the grading rollers in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, and a plurality or pivotally-mountedcontact members each of which is adapted to be selectively engaged and turned by one or another of said pins into engagement with the sole associated with such pin, such engagement being determined by the adjusted height of the pin, each contact member so engaged operating to effect a delivery of the sole with which it is turned into contact at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position of the actuating grading pin, whereby all soles of like grade passing undersaid grading rollers will be assembled at the same position.

3. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of pivotally-mounted grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers to cause the same to raise and lower in accord with variations in the thickness of the soles along predetermined lines of grading at either side of the soles, adjustable means for determining said lines of grading,

a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under and engaged by them in the lines of grading, a series of adjustable gradingpins continuously movable by the machine in succession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, means for moving each sole passing from the grading rollers in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, and a plurality of pivotallymounted contact members each or which is adapted to be selectively engaged and turned by one or another of said pins into engagement with the sole associated with said pin, such engage ment being determinedby the adjusted height of the pin, each contact member-so actuated operating to efi'ect a delivery of the sole engaged by it at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position of the actuating grading pin, whereby all soles of like grade passing under said grading rollers will be assembled at the same position.

4. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of pivoted grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers to cause the same to raise and lower in accord with variations in the thickness of the soles along predetermined lines of grading at either side of the soles, a verticallymovable grading head governed in its movements in said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under them in the lines of grading, a series of adjustable grading pins continuously movable by the machine in succession under and engaged by said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions or said head, means for moving each sole passing from the grading rollers in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, and a series or pivotally mounted contact members arranged in descending order relative to the movement of the pins each of which is adapted to be selectively engaged and turned by one or another of said pinsinto engagement with the sole associated with such pin, such engagement being determined. by the adjusted height of the pin, each contact member so actuated operating to eflect a delivery 01 the sole engaged-by it at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position or the actuating grading pin, whereby all soles of like grade passing under said grading rollers will be assembled at the same position.

5. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, sole grading members movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles passing in contact therewith, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading members and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing in contact. with said grading members, means for passing soles in succession to said grading members, a continuously rotatable carrier adapted to receive the soles acted on by said grading members, a series of adjustable grading pins mounted in said carrier and movable thereby in succession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said-head, and a plurality of members adapted to be selectively actuated by said grading pins, according to their respective positions, to engage the soles in order passing from said grading members, grade-mark the same and efiect the delivery 01' each sole at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position or the actuatin grading 'pin.

6. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, sole grading members movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles passing in contact therewith, means for passing soles in succession to and past said grading members, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading members and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing in contact with said grading members, a continuously rotatable carrier adapted to receive the soles acted on by said grading members, a series of adjustable grading pins mounted in said carrier and movable thereby insuccession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, means located in advance of the head to.

cause each 'pin to be lowered below the plane of said head, and a plurality of members adapted to be selectively actuated by said grading pins, according to their respective positions, to engage the soles in order passing from said grading members and effect the delivery or each sole at 7. A sole grading machine comprising, in com- I bination, sole grading members movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles passing in contact therewith, means for passing soles in succession to and past said grading members, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading members and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing in contact with said grading members, a continuously rotatable carrier adapted to receive the soles acted on by said grading members, a series of adjustable grading pins mounted in said carrier and movable thereby in succession under said grading head and adapted to be lowered thereby to variouspositions in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, a friction device supporting each pin and operating to maintain the same in any position to which it may be lowered by the grading head, means located in advance of the grading head to cause each pin to be lowered below the plane of said head, means for raising each pin into contact with the under side of the grading head as it passes under the latter, and a plurality of members adapted to be selectively actuated by said grading pins, according to their respective positions. to engage the soles in order passing from said grading members and effeet the delivery of each sole at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position 'of the actuating grading pin i a 8. A sole grading machine comprising. in combination, sole grading members movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles passing in contact therewith, means for passing soles in succession to and past said grading members, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading members and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with-the thinnest portion of each sole passing in contact with said grading members, a series of adjustable grading pins continuously movable by the machine in succession under said grading head and adapted to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, means for moving each sole passing from the grading members in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, a seriesjof pivotally-mounted contact members arranged at halfiron intervals in descending order relative to the direction of movement of the pins, each of which is adapted to be selectively engaged and turned by one or the other of said pins into engagement with the sole associated with such pin, such engagement being determined by the adjusted height of the pin, each contact member so actuated operating to effect a delivery of the sole engaged by it at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position of the actuating grading pin. and independent means for adjusting the height of said grading head.

9. A sole grading machine comprising, in com-- bination, sole grading members movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles passing in contact therewith, means for passing soles in succession to and past said grading members, a vertically-movablegrading head governed in its movements by said grading members and of each sole passing in contact with said grading members, a series of adjustable grading pins continuously movable by the machine in succession under said grading head and adaptedto be adjusted thereby to various heights in,

accord with the adjusted positions of said head,

means for moving each-sole passing from the grading members in operative relation to the grading pin adjusted thereby, a series of pivotally-mounted contact members arrangedat halfiron intervals in descending order relative to the direction of movement of the grading pins, each of which is adapted to be selectively engagedand turned by one or the other of said pins into engagement with the sole associated with such pin, such engagement being determined by the adjusted height of the pin, each contact member so operated effecting a delivery of the sole engaged by it at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted position of the actuating grading pin, and automatic means operable after each pin has moved past the grading head to adjust its height to correspond to an exact measurement in whole or half-irons in the event the grade of the sole which caused the pin to be adjusted was-such as to cause the pin to be moved to a height varying from correspondence with such grade measurements.

10. In a machine for grading soles, grading mechanism for detecting the thinnest portion of a sole at either side, means for passing soles in succession through said grading mechanism, a

rotary carrier, a series of grading pins adjustably mounted in said carrier and each of which is adapted to be adjusted to a given height corresponding to the thinnest portion of a sole detected by the grading mechanism, said carrier being adapted to receive each sole passing from the grading mechanism at a position operatively related to the grading pin whose height has been adjusted by the sole, a series of pivoted sole-engaging members, and contact devices carried thereby and arranged in a decreasing order of height relative to the direction of movement of said carrier and adapted to be selecsuccession through said grading mechanism, a

rotary carrier, a series of grading pins adjustably mounted in said carrier and each of which is adapted to be adjusted to a given height corresponding to the thinnest portion of a sole detected by the grading mechanism, said carrier being adapted to receive each sole passing from the grading mechanism at a position operatively related tothe grading pin whose height has been adjusted by-the sole, a seriesof pivoted holders each of which has at its lower end a die having a grade number, and contact devices carried by the die holders and arranged in a decreasing orselectively actuated by each grading pin having a corresponding height to turn the die into engagement with the sole associated with the grading pin and cause the grade of the sole to be marked thereon.

12. A. sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of means for grading soles according to their thinnest edge portion and for delivering the graded soles at fixed points determined, respectively, by their grade as measured in irons and half-irons, said means including a movable series of actuating members for eflecting such delivery, each of which is adapted to be set in accordance with the grade of a sole being 16 graded to a given adjusted position corresponding to the grade of the sole and such position determining the point at which the actuating member shall effect delivery of such sole, and means for automatically adjusting each actuating member 20 after a grading operation to a position corresponding to a definite measurement in irons or half-irons, in the event that its position as fixed by a sole in the grading operation should be intermediate an interval of measurement.

2 13. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of means for grading soles according to their thinnest edge portion and for delivering the gradedsoles at fixed points determined, respectively, by their grade as meas- 80 ured in irons and half-irons, said means including a movable series of grading pins for eflectving such delivery, each of which is adapted to be set in accordance with the grade of a sole being graded to agiven adjusted position corresponding 35 to the grade of the sole and such position determining the point at which the grading pin shall eflect delivery of such sole, a series of adjustable rocking levers each of which supports a grading pin, a conical pin carried by each rocking lever,

40 and a vertical cylinder provided with peripheral, parallel grooves arranged at distances from each other corresponding to half-iron intervals, each conical pin in its movement with the grading pin being adapted to engage the surface or said cylinder and be directed into one or the other of said grooves thereby rocking said lever in one direction or the other and adjusting the grading pin to a position corresponding to a definte measurement in irons or half-irons in the event that 50 its position as fixed by a sole in the grading operation should be intermediate an interval of measurement.

14. A grading .machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of means for grading soles 55 according to their thinnest edge portion and for delivering the graded soles at fixed points determined, respectively, by their grade as measured in irons and half-irons, said means including a rotary carrier having a series oi. grading pins 00 mounted therein for free vertical movement and operating to efiect such delivery, each 01' said pins being adapted to be set in accordance with the grade of a sole being graded to a given adjusted the grading pin shall efiect delivery of such sole,

68 and such position determining the point at which the grading pin shall effect delvery of such sole, a series of pivoted friction members mounted on said carrier each of which supports a grading pin and is adapted to maintain the same in anypo- 70 sition to which it may be adjusted, a roller carried by each friction member, and a spring-controlled contact lever mounted in the path of said roller and adapted, when the roller passes over the same, to raise the corresponding grading pin 15 to grading position.

15. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of vertically-movable grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers to cause the same to raise and lower in accord with variations 5 in the thickness of the soles, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to suecessive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under and 10 engaged by them, a rotatable carrier, a series of tables secured at intervals about its pereiphery,

a series of adjustable grading pins mounted in said carrier inoperative relation, respectively, to said tables and movable by the carrier in succesl5 sion under said grading head to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, and a series of pivoted, spring-controlled contact members adapted to be selectively engaged by said grading so pins according to their positions and turned into engagement with the soles in order passing from said grading rollers, each of said soles being deposited upon a table and held thereon by engage- I ment .therewith oi. the corresponding contact member until the table moves from under it and being then impelled rearwardly by the reaction of the spring of said contact member, and a series of containers respectively positioned to receive the soles discharged Irom said tables. 80

16. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of verticallymovable grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers to cause the same to raise and lower in accord with variations in the thickness of the soles, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under and engaged by them, a rotatable carrier, a series of tables secured at intervals about its periphery.

a chute for receiving the soles from the grading rollers and delivering each sole in turn flatwise on one 01' said tables, a series of adjustable grad- 5 ing pins mounted in said carrier in operative relation, respectively, to said tables and movable by the carrier in succession under said grading head to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions oi said head,

and a series of pivoted, spring-controlled contact members adapted to be selectively engaged by said grading pins according to their positions and turned into engagement with the sole on a corresponding table against the resistance of its spring and operating to hold said sole stationary while the table moves from under it and then by the reaction or its spring to impel the sole rearwardly. and a series of containers positioned, respectively, under each contact member for receiving the soles delivered thereby.

17. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, vertically movable sole grading mechanism movable in response to variations in the thickness of soles moved under the same, 55 means iorpassing soles in succession under said grading mechanism, a vertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading mechanism and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest portion of each sole passing under the grading mechanism, a rotatable carrier, a series of tables secured at intervals about its periphery, means for delivering each sole passing from the grading mechanism flatwise on one of said tables, a series of adjustable grading pins mounted in said carrier in operative relation, respectively, to said tables and movable by the carrier in succession under said grading head to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head, a series of pivoted, spring-controlled members each of which carries at'its lower end a die, a contact arm on each of said members adapted to be selectively engaged by said grading pins according to their heights to turn the die on its member into engagement with the sole on a corresponding table against the resistance of its spring and operating to hold said hole stationary while the table moves from under it and then by the reaction of its spring to impel the sole rearwardly, a container located under each of said members for receiving the sole delivered thereby, and a sole-engaging device mounted on each of said members at a distance from its die and to be turned into engagement with the sole simultaneously with the die to prevent the sole'from turning during the time the die is engaging the same.

18. In a sole grading machine, sole grading mechanism including a vertically-movable grading head of uniformly varying diameter adapted to be moved to adjusted positions in response to variations in the thickness of soles acted on, a series of delivery devices for, the graded soles, a series of adjustable grading pins movable by the machine in succession under and in contact with said grading head to be adjusted thereby to various heights in accord with the adjusted positions of said head and adapted, according to their adjustment, to selectively actuate said delivery devices to cause soles of like grade to be delivered at the same point, and means for turning said head to adjusted positions to vary the distance said grading pins will move in contact with said grading head.

19. In a machine for grading soles, grading mechanism for determining the thinnest part of the edge portions of each sole, a continuously rotating carrier for receiving and sorting the graded soles, said carrier having a series of tripping means each of which is automatically set'by the grading mechanism to correspond with the gradingor the particular sole being operated on, and a plurality of members adapted to be selectively actuated by said tripping means, according to their respective positions, to eflect the delivery of each sole at a definite position according to its grade as established by the adjusted setting or the tripping means.

termined, respectively, by their grade, said means' including a carrier adapted to be continuously rotated having a series of grading pins mounted therein for free vertical movement and operating to effect such delivery, each of said pins being,

adapted to be set in accordance with the grade of a sole being graded to a given adjusted position corresponding to the grade of the sole and such position determining the point at which the grading pin shall effect delivery of such sole, and means, adjustable in position, operating auto-. matically in the movement of said carrier to raise each pin in turn to grading position prior to the beginning of thegrading operation.

21. A sole grading machine comprising, in combination, a pair of grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers, a grading member adapted to be positioned by the grading rollers in accordance with the thinnest edge portion of each sole passing under and engaged by said rollers, assembling means, a continuously rotatable member, and adjustable means carried by said rotatable member into cooperative relation with said grading member to be adjusted thereby, and then with said assembling means, to actuate the same, whereby, to cause the soles passing under and from the grading rollers to said rotatable member to be assembled in definite'positions determined, respectively, by the various adjusted positions of said grading member.

22. A sole grading machine comprising,- in.

combination, a pair of grading rollers, means for passing soles in succession under and in contact with said rollers, avertically-movable grading head governed in its movements by said grading rollers and adapted to be lowered to successive adjusted positions in accordance with the thinnest edge portion of each sole passing under and engaged by said rollers, assembling means, a continuously rotatable member, and a plurality of vertically adjustable means carried by said rotatable member under and into cooperative relation with said grading head and said assembling means, successively, to cause the soles passing under and from the grading rollers to said rotatable member to be assembled in definite positions determined, respectively, by the various adjusted positions of said grading head.

nmmrs PARKS. 

